Sabaraimala protests: 30 people arrested

Sabarimala temple, which opened for devotees for the first time following the Supreme Court’s order to lift restrictions on entry of women, witnessed a total of 30 people being arrested in Pamba since Tuesday in connection with protests against the entry of women of menstruating age inside the temple premises.

As many as 21 people were arrested on Wednesday for going against the apex court’s decision and forcing women from entering the holy shrine while nine people were arrested on Tuesday.

At least 50 people, including former Travancore Devaswom Board president Prayar Gopalakrishnan, were taken into police custody in Pamba and Nilakkal for protesting against the entry of women.

The protesters on Wednesday also attacked two woman journalists on their way to Sabarimala. South Indian Bureau Chief of Republic TV Pooja Prasanna was manhandled by a mob of 100 people when she was covering the protests in Nilackal.

In another incident a South Indian Online portal Journalist Saritha S Balan was also attacked by a mob of 20 people in Pamba. The protesters tried to drag her out of a bus and abused her physical and verbally.

The temple, which opened at 5 PM Wednesday, will close for devotees on October 23.